U.S. delegates: people-to-people exchanges with China are important

The year 2019 not only marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., but also marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of exchanges between All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) and the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL).

ACYPL is an organization specializing in international exchanges among young political leaders under the guidance of the U.S. State Department. A delegation group from the ACYPL visited China and attended a symposium to strengthen the bonds with their Chinese counterparts.

With Chinese and American representatives from political circles, academic arenas and business sectors, dialogues are carried out to analyze the consequences of the current trade tensions.

Ideas during the meeting focused on the spirit of cooperation and maintaining exchanges in order to reach resolution. Many participants said it's a very encouraging conversation and there is a reason to be confident and hopeful that both countries will find a solution to resume the productive relationship over the past 40 years that the two major economies have built.

We must continue the people-to-people exchanges, to continue the kind of partnership between ACYPL and ACYF (so) that we will once again return back to normal, hopefully, said Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, president of U.S.-China Education Trust.

Forty years of bilateral ties have witnessed tremendous growth in people-to-people exchanges. According to recent data from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China and the U.S. now have 50 pairs of sister states and provinces and 277 pairs of sister cities. Over 14,000 visits are made by air across the Pacific every day.

However, the U.S. recently imposed visa restrictions on Chinese students majoring in certain disciplines, reviewing and revoking some Chinese nationals' visas and canceling the 10-year visa for some Chinese academics studying there.

The U.S. delegates said for the people of the two countries, bilateral exchange in education and cultural sectors are significant.

We certainly had lots of Chinese students studying in America and companies have hired them to continue to work in America, but also continue to work in China and other countries. The boundaries of education don't exist, globalization affected education, just like it affected business. So I would imagine that (this situation) will continue, despite any specific disagreements that may come up. I think that (it) will come (out) a strong way just as it has over the past forty years, said David Edmund Black, director of Coal Marketing Sales from Union Pacific Railroad.

I certainly hope that students from China will be able to continue to come to the U.S. and study, it would be disappointing if that doesn't continue, because I think those bonds are created (for) life-changing experiences, said Kenneth Gross, trustee member of ACYPL.

Chinese attendees emphasized that China always supports international youth exchanges, and other education and people-to-people cooperation. However, such cooperation should be based on mutual respect and non-confrontation.

(CGTN)